Ageing effect on the magnetocaloric properties of Gd, Gd5Si1.9Ge2.1 and on the eutectic composition Gd75Cd25

Abstract The ageing effects due to the interaction with typical working fluids (water and air) of magnetic refrigerant materials have been analysed for up to one year. Among the many compounds reported to exhibit a sufficiently high magnetocaloric effect, we decided to artificially age Gd, which represents the first choice high magnetocaloric element, Gd5Si1.9Ge2.1, belonging to the series Gd5(SixGe4-x)4 which for x ~ 0.5 displays a giant magnetocaloric effect, and finally, the eutectic Gd75Cd25 alloy, presenting an almost constant adiabatic temperature rise in an interesting temperature span (260-280 K). Magnetothermal results give evidence that corrosion and corrosion/erosion processes take place with different results on the refrigerant properties of all the materials. The adiabatic temperature rise is strongly reduced due to surface oxidation which lowers thermal conduction while the effect on the refrigerant capacity is definitely smaller. The effects of corrosion/erosion processes are confirmed by quantitative chemical analysis performed on the refrigerant fluid before and after the ageing process. Employing working fluids with a reduced corrosive effect but with comparable thermal properties may be a viable way of avoiding corrosion damage; alternatively the use of additives to decrease the corrosive properties of the fluids is strongly suggested.